The dinner ended without incident, and it was finally time for the party.
I had an important job to do tonight: evidence-gathering. Something told me this was going to be a different kettle of fish from the usual mindless chatting and dancing.
For starters, I couldn’t just go around waltzing with whomever I pleased. Man, I should have had my lady friends teach me how to encourage a specific guy to ask you to the floor!
“But seriously, how do I get them to invite me to dance?”
Obviously I couldn’t walk up and ask them myself, but if I did things my usual way and just mentally checked out, the prospective dance partners would keep coming and coming until I missed my chance for any one-on-one time with the targets.
Mr. Fisalis sure has it easy. He’s free to just pick his dance partner from the list of suspects!
Tonight, I had to fraternize with the male suspects and hear what they had to say. My mission was of the utmost importance. Meanwhile, Mr. Fisalis had to cozy up to their wives (or fiancée, in one instance).
Before I could manage any of that, however, I had to figure out how to get the targets to approach me and dodge invitations from other people in the meantime.
I feel like I’m getting caught in a loop here... Hmmm. Guess I’ll start by hanging around near the suspects. That’s about the only idea I can come up with.
Upon surveying the room in an attempt to figure out who was standing where, I spotted Viscount Pastoris close at hand.
Target acquired! You’re it, Viscount Pastoris!
I oh-so-very-casually sidled up to him, accidentally-on-purpose made eye contact, and offered him a sweet smile. I’m counting on you to read between the lines, mister!
I must have gotten my message across (or maybe I’d just been staring too hard for comfort), because the viscount soon came over to ask me to the floor. “Well, well—if it isn’t Lady Viola! Would you care to join me for a dance?”
Hooray! I got through to him!
“I’d be honored,” I replied, offering him a hand.
“Why, when my daughter hears I had the chance to dance with you, I’m sure she’ll be green with envy! Ha ha ha!”
Say, Mr. Viscount of the Plump and Jiggling Belly, might you have a habit of spoiling your daughter? (Source: Rohtas)
“Oh, surely you’re exaggerating! Oho ho ho!”
“Hardly! She looks up to you so much that she always just has to have all the same dresses and necklaces as you. Speaking of which, that’s some very fine jewelry you’re wearing tonight. I’m sure it won’t be long before she’s begging me for a copy.”
Mm-hmm. I see Rohtas was right on the money!
“And you buy her everything she asks for?”
“I’m afraid so. I simply can’t help myself.”
“Wow, that’s so sweet of you!”
What a difference from my dad! Well, no, he’s plenty sweet... He just doesn’t blindly shower me with gifts.
“I’m a bit too soft on her, I know...”
“I can’t imagine that much shopping is easy on your wallet.”
I wasn’t sure spoiling her was such a good idea either.
“I’ll say. As embarrassing as it is to admit, it’s becoming difficult to make ends meet... Oh, good heavens! What am I doing telling you all this?”
He made an effort to sheepishly laugh it off, but little did he know that this was exactly what I wanted to hear! It was time to start digging for the deets.
“Difficult to make ends meet? Goodness, are you really in that much trouble?”
“Oh no, we’re not that hard up! Ha ha ha—my wife and daughter might swallow up most of my salary, but fortunately for us, that dependable son of ours can make up the difference.”
“If I recall, he works for the chivalric order? Your daughter mentioned it at the tea party the other day.”
“That’s right—though he’s not a direct subordinate of the duke or anything like that. He’s an awfully dutiful son, that boy. I do my best not to worry him since he’s off living in the knights’ dormitories, but every now and then he’ll drop by our manor and...”
The more I listened to him talk, the more he sounded like a doting father who had a soft spot not only for his daughter, but for his entire family. It seemed his son was helping keep his head above water too.
By the end of our lengthy conversation, it was hard to see the viscount as anything but a good-natured old man.